CFP: Approaches to Teaching August Wilson (8/31/05; collection)

The Modern Language Association's Book Publishing Program seeks =proposals for essays for publication in the upcoming collection =Approaches to Teaching August Wilson, to be edited by Howard University =professor Sandra G. Shannon. August Wilson's plays have become familiar =items on reading lists, syllabi, and exams in high school and college =curricula. Already an ever increasing number of anthologies and various =multi-media teaching resources on his plays exist, thus facilitating the =continued presentation of one or more of his dramatic works in =classrooms across America and beyond. To that end, this collection =seeks to make available for teachers of English, drama, history, =African American literature, for example, a wide range of helpful =resources on August Wilson's now completed ten-play cycle. Approaches =to Teaching August Wilson will feature a sampling of proven teaching =strategies along with a supply of classroom-friendly approaches to =engaging students about one of America's most influential writers. =20

If you are interested in contributing to Approaches to Teaching August =Wilson, please complete the attached survey sponsored by the Modern =Language Association on or before August 31, 2005 in order to meet MLA =editors' deadline. Along with the survey, please include a brief =proposal detailing your focus.=20

Please feel free to use additional sheets for your answers to these=20questions. We would be grateful to receive supplementary materials=20(course descriptions, syllabi, bibliographies, and study materials,=20including assignments). You may send responses only, with=20corresponding numbers, to the e-mail address above. In the published=20volume we will acknowledge all respondents. Thank you very much for=20your help.

1. What plays by August Wilson do you teach most often and why?

2. Please describe the course in which you teach August Wilson's=20plays and indicate the academic level of students in the course.=20

3. What type of primary resource material (interviews, essays,=20speeches) do you consult as you prepare lesson plans for teaching=20August Wilson's plays?

5. What do you consider to be the most important features of August=20Wilson's plays?

6. What critical approaches or methodologies have you found most=20helpful or stimulating in teaching August Wilson's plays? =20

7. What kinds of assignments (group, oral, written, library=20research) do you find most useful while teaching August Wilson's=20plays? Have any proven particularly successful? Unsuccessful?

8. Do you find the race of the teacher or the racial make-up of the=20class to be factors in teaching August Wilson? If so, how do you=20negotiate it?

9. Do you find it more useful to teach August Wilson's plays ona=20play-by-play basis or as interrelated components to his larger 10-play agenda? Explain.

10. Have you taught any of August Wilson's plays within a=20thematically designed course (e.g., The American Family or The Great=20Migration in Literature). Please identify the play and explain how=20you present it as part of the course design.=20

11. Do you include aspects of performance in your approach to=20teaching August Wilson's plays? What sorts of techniques do youuse?=20

12. Do your students have the opportunity to see live performances=20of any of Wilson's plays? If so, how do you convert theirtheatre=20experience into teaching opportunities?=20

13. What is your approach to discussing the language in August=20Wilson's plays?

14. What is the relationship, if any between your own scholarly work=20on August Wilson and your teaching, and how do you exploit this=20relationship?